What’s Left of Washington State Plays Syracuse in the Holiday Bowl (GAME THREAD)

Normally, appearing in the ninth bowl game in the last 12 seasons is cause for celebration among Cougar football fans – especially considering the Cougs have only appeared in a total of ten bowl games in their history prior to 2013 ( yes, I know there are more bowl games). nowadays).

But today’s matchup against No. 21 Syracuse doesn’t have quite the same feel as, say, the 2003 Holiday Bowl against Texas. The sport has changed so much since the Cougs beat the Longhorns 21 years ago, and if you ask me, not all for the better.

But this is all beyond our control, as is the mass exodus from the WSU roster. Here’s The Spokesman-Review’s Greg Woods recapping what’s happened since the Cougs lost the season finale to Wyoming:

There are 28 Cougars in the transfer portal, including the players who led the team to an 8-4 regular season: quarterback John Mateer, running back Wayshawn Parker, offensive lineman Fa’alili Fa’amoe, defensive tackles David Gusta and Ansel Din -Mbuh, cornerback Ethan O’Connor, linebacker Buddah Al-Uqdah, even punter Nick Haberer. Still others have committed to other programs, including Arizona-bound wideout Kris Hutson and Arizona State signee Adrian Wilson.

The Cougars will also be without an offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator after OC Ben Arbuckle left for Oklahoma and DC Jeff Schmedding was fired. Absences also include a running backs coach (Mark Atuaia left for Utah) and a quarterbacks coach (John Kuceyeski took a job at Oklahoma).

Dickert indicated before his departure that wide receivers coach Nick Edwards will call offensive plays in Friday’s game, but it’s unclear who will do that on defense. Dickert was determined to dictate the defense against the Orange (9-3).

Woods’ article also mentions the fact that acting coach Pete Kaligis said players who entered the portal after Dec. 18 would still be eligible to play for WSU in the Holiday Bowl after a team vote. Who among these players fits and who doesn’t remains to be seen.

So unfortunately it won’t be the usual WSU lineup tonight. But as I wrote last week, I’ll tune in anyway because WSU football is a drug I can’t get off. There are worse habits, I think.

It’s a Friday evening after one big holiday and before the next – the perfect time to curl up on the couch and watch this duct-taped team compete one last time. The ball is in your hands, Zevi Eckhaus. The game assignment is yours, Nick Edwards. The defense is in the hands of…well, we don’t really know.

It’s the Cougs and Orange (naming teams by colors is lame). Talk about it here.

When

5:00 PM PT, a perfect Friday night start.

Where

Snapdragon Stadium, and apparently the turf has improved since WSU last played there, when it still resembled Coronado Beach.

Here’s how to watch

Tune in to Fox, one of the few bowl games not broadcast on ESPN. The great Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt are in discussion.

The line

Syracuse, -18. My goodness.